Operating-contact for automatic piano-players.



E. B. SHERMAN.

GPERATING CONTACT POR AUToMATw PIANO PLAYERS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10, 1910.

Patented Feb. 4, 1913.

2 SHEETSSHBET l.

E. B. SHERMAN.

OPERATING CONTACT FOR AUTOMATIG PIANO PLAYERS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.10, 1910.

' Patented Feb.4,1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

` UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEroE.

EDGAR IB. SHERMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

OPERATING-CONTACT FOR AUTOMATIC PIANOPLAYERS.

To all whom may concern.'

Be itknown that I, EDGAR B. SHERMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in." the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Operating-Contacts for AutomaticPiano'IPlayers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

My invention relates to a circuit-former comprising a tri-point adaptedto be used in connection with a coin-controlled automatic piano player`or similar device of a type substantially corresponding in constructionto that set forth in an application for Letters Patent of the UnitedStates in the name of Edwin A. Kingsley and Karl O. Carlson, iled March3, 1909, Serial No. 481,068. x

The object of my invention is to produce a device of this character thatis adapted to be released by a falling coin to form a selective andmotor circuit, and then reset automatically by mechanical means.

A further'object is to so construct and arrange the parts that it isimpossiblev to defrai l the machine by playing more than one selectionor repeating the same selection onthc piano by a single coin.

I accomplish these objects by the means and in the manner hereinafterfully described and as more particularly pointed out in the claims,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof,in which,

Figure 1 is a vertical end elevation of my improved mechanism showingthe same as having been released by a coin and then reset through themedium of an independent pneumatic, the latter position beingillustrated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a view of the mechanism in aposition similar to Fig. l illustrating in dotted lines the manner ofresetting the same pneumatically by means of the hinged tracker-board ofthe piano playing mechanism. Fig. 3 is a 'top plan view of the device,in which only four coin-chutes and their connected mechanism, aie shownthe remainder being broken away. Fig. L is a fragmentary front elevationshowing in detail the construction and operation of the automatic latchthat is used in reset-ting the device. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sideelevation showing in detail'one of the contactfeet and the operation ofthe same in forming the contact. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan View ofthe Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 10, 1910.

Patented Feb. 4,1913.

serial No. 537,313. i

-rear end of a music-roll adapted to be used in connection with myimprovements to operate the pneumatic for breaking the circuits. y y

In operating an automatic piano-player of the type to which my inventionrelates, two. main -electrical circuits are .necessary (only the'terminals of which are shown for convenience). One of these when closedstarts the motor for driving the pneumatic or bellows, the unwinding andrewinding of the music-roll. and related parts, and the other circuitoperates the mechanism for selecting the proper roll of 'music corre#sponding to the one selected by the person depositing the coin in therespective chute. These circuits are adapted to be closed by thedepositing of a coin in one of a series of coin-slots in a remoteportion of the machine, and this falling coin will release the mechanismholding the selector-circuit opened, which is Iadapted to stop themusic-roll carrying-drum so that the music sheet desired will be broughtunder the tracker-board. In carrying out my invention in connection withthis mechanism, I employ suitable instrumentalities which -will beunderstood by reference to the drawings in which Q. repre'- sents asuitable base or platform upon which a row of vertically disposedcoinechutes 3, 3, are mounted, one for each tune or music roll mountedwithin on the music-roll-drum. rlhe forward vertical Walls of thesecoinchutes are, preferably, cut away for a short distance to leave aslot in which suitable vertically disposed trips lare pivotally mounted.'Ihese trips are pivotally mounted between lugs projecting from the edgeof the chute, and preferably comprise a meniber l having a lateral arm 5projecting toward and through the slot into the coinchute.

In order to keep the trip in normal position a counterweight 6, forminga part thereof is formed on the side of the pivot pin opposite thelateral. arm 5. The function of these trips is to support the free endsof the series of independent contactcarrying bars '7 when any of thesame are not in use as shown in dotted lines in Fins. 1 and 2 of thedrawings.

front of the coin-chutes and have their ends opposite said chutespivotally connected to a horlzontally disposed rod 8. The ends of thisrod are mounted in suitable vert-icalv These bars 'are preferablyarranged 1n parallel orderV un,

standards 9 that form one member of an L- shaped bracket secured to aninsulation plate 10 mounted longitudinally on the front edge of the baseor platform 2.

Swingingv loosely trom pivotal bearings one on each side of and mediatethe ends o1 bars 7 are swinging hangers 11 that have substantiallyV-shaped double contacts 12 pivotally mounted between the lower swingingends thereof. These contacts preferably bridge the space betweensuitable circuit terminals or contact plates and have small contactshoes 13, 14, on their lower ends. The pivot of these contacts isslightly to one side of the center of length thereof so that one of theshoes (the one on the heavier side of the contact) will reach thecontactplate ahead of the other, and while this latter foot is reachingits contact position the former shoe will slide on the contact-plate adistance sutlicient to scrape and clean the same so that a perfectcontact will be made. A plurality of parallel selector-circuitcontact-plates S, S, are secured to the plate 10 mounted on base 2,directly below and in vertical. alinement with the bars 7 and are soarranged that their forward ends terminate at the edge of the platform2,r and their opposite ends back of the shoes 14 of the contacts areeach provided with binding posts or terminals 16, 16, ot theselector-circuit of the apparatus. These posts'are preferably mounted onthe-ends of contact-plates S, S, at a point substantially below and invertical alinement with the rod 8.

Mounted back of the rear ends of the selector-plates isa longitudinallyelongated contact-plate M for the motor-circuit. that is provided witha. binding-post 18 tov which the wire of the motor-energizing-circuit issecured. This motor-circuit is adapted to be closed each time a coinpasses through one of the coin-chutes and trips the bar 7 therebystarting the motor for driving the pneumatics and related parts of thepiano-playing apparatus. As soon as the motor-circuit is closed thehinged tracker-board 19 (a diagrammatieal rear portion only of which isshown herein) vmoves into engagement with the music-sheet and its rearendwill occupy a position as shown in full lines in Figs. l and 2 of thedrawing. When, however', the current is turned oil", thel tracker-boardrises, causmg the lowering of the rear end to the position shown indotted lines (Fig. 2) which will automatically raise the selector bar 7to its normal position, as will hereafter fully appear.

Mounted on a suitable standard 20 rising from the insulation 10 is alever 2l, which ,is operatedby the movement of the rear `end of thetracker-board to which said lever is operatively connected by a suitableextension 22. A suitably shaped elevating yoke 23 having` a connectingmember 24 that passes under all. of the supporting bars 7, is mountedalongside the end of lever 2l and has its parallel arms pivotallymounted in suitable vertical standards 2. .secured` to and risingfromthe platform This elevating' yoke 23 is adapted to be raised by thedownward movement of the end of the tracker-bond cooperating with lever2l and is operatively connected to said lever by means ot'a flexiblehanger 2G pendent 'from the end, thereof. This hanger is preferably ofspring metal and its tace neat the yoke is provided with a lug orshoulder 27 adapted to engage the under surface of one of the adjacent.arms oit yoke 23. A pair of guidelugs 28, 28, project from the lower endof the hanger 26, upon the side thereof opposite lug 27, and are adaptedto pass on each side of an'outwardly inclined substantially verticallinger 29 rising from a plate secured to platform 2.

ln order to withdraw the shoulder 27 vtrom beneath the yoke atter thebar or bars 7 have been elevated and set a small anti- (friction roller30 is journaled between the outer ends ot' guide-lugs 28 so that it willengage the outer edge of the inclined finger 29 and, as the lia-.ngerrises, the bars will be elevated until they have been reset and then theroller will pull the shoulder from under the yoke and returnautomatically to its normal position. As the tracker-board leaves themusic-sheet every time the current isturned oit it will be seen thatthis movement will cause the selector-circuit and motor-circuit to beinstantly broken and the machine stopped until another' coin has beendropped into one of the chutes to release a trip.

In order to stop the machine at the end of a musici-sheet I make use ofa small pneumatic7 or bellows 3l which when closed will elevate a rod 32secured to its movable.

freue and projecting outwardly over the horizontal connecting member ofthe yoke where it passes through an eye in the upper lend o'l asn'l-all'vertical rod rising from the same about midway its length. Anyupward movement of 'the rod 32 will elevate the vertical rod 33 andconsequent-ly the yoke, thereby raising and resetting the contactcarrying bar 7 that was dropped to operate the lnachine. The pneumaticis actuated by means of an additional independent opening or perforation34 placed at the end of the music roll after the last note perforatifmand communicating with said pneiu'natic by an indcpemlent pipe 35. Thismechanism will stop the device as soon as each record has been played bybreaking the cont-act in the selector-circuit l as shown in dottedlilies in Fig. l ot the drawings.

From the above it will be seen that it will i orientant x said contactsnot be possible (as'it was heretofore) to play more than one tune orrepeat any particular tune by simply turningof the current at the switchmomentarily and then starting Ait again, because the instant the currentis shut off the tracker-board is raised from the music-sheet causing thebreaking` of the selector-circuit and the selectors are all returned andreset to the normal position (s `er bars 7 and contact-shoes 12 indotted li` es Figs. 1 and 2).

What claim as new is 1. A circuit former comprising suitable terminalplates, a bridging-contact suspended above said plates and comprising afoot pivoted at one side of its center of gravity whereby onev end ofsaid foot slides a short distance on its respective plate in makingcontact.

2. A circuit former comprising suitable terminal plates, agravitywactuated pivoted bar above said plates, a bridging-contactcarried by sai'd bar and comprising a foot pivoted at one side of itscenter of gravity whereby one end of said foot slides a short distanceon its respective plate in making contact.

3. A circuit-former comprising a series of terminal-plates, a mainterminal-plate adjacent the ends of the same, a bridging contactsuspended above each terminal-plate and adapted to contact With itsrespective terminal-plate and said main terminal plate when released,and a device for resetting after the same have been released.

4. A circuit-former comprising a seriesof parallel terminal-plates, aseparatemain terminal-plate adjacent the ends of the same, a series ofgravity actuated horizontal bars pivoted at one end above said parallelterminal-plates, a bridging contact carriedby each bar, a devicesupporting the free ends of said bars, and means common to all of saidbars for resetting the same after the latter has been released.

5. A circuit-former comprising a series of parallel ter1ninal-plates, aseparate main terminal-plate adjacent the ends of the same, a series ofgravity actuated horizontal bars pivoted at one end above said parallelterminal-plates, a bridging contact carried by each bar, means forsupporting the free end of each bar, and means common to all of saidbars for resetting the same when released from said supporting means.

6. A circuit-former comprising a series of parallel terminal-plates, aseparate main terminaleplate adjacent the ends of the same, a seriesofxgravity actuated Ahorizontal bars pivoted at one end above saidparallel terminal-plates, a bridging contact carried by each bar, agravity-returnable trip for supporting the free ends of each of saidbars, and a device common to all of said bars for resetting the sameWhen released from said trips.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of August,1909.

EDGAR B. SHERMAN.

Witnesses:

E. K. LUNDY, THOMAS J. HARPER.

